"Haibane renmei" (2002) TV series

User Rating:

8.8/10   

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

10 September 2002 (Japan)

Genre:

Animation | Drama | Fantasy

Plot:

A young girl is reborn as an angel-like creature called a haibane, with no memory of who she once was.

Plot Keywords:

Rebirth | Suicide | Crow | Flight | Self Mutilation

Cast

Ryô Hirohashi	...	Rakka (10 episodes, 2002)
Junko Noda	...	Reki (10 episodes, 2002)
Eri Miyajima	...	Kana (10 episodes, 2002)
Fumiko Orikasa	...	Hikari (10 episodes, 2002)
Kazusa Murai	...	Nemu (10 episodes, 2002)
Ami Higasayama	...	Child / ... (7 episodes, 2002)
Miyu Matsuki	...	Child / ... (7 episodes, 2002)
Chihiro Suzuki	...	Hyoko (6 episodes, 2002)
Kumiko Higa	...	Dai (6 episodes, 2002)
Ai Tokunaga	...	Hana (6 episodes, 2002)
Masumi Asano	...	Shorta / ... (5 episodes, 2002)
Manabi Mizuno	...	Midori (5 episodes, 2002)
Tamio Ôki	...	Communicator (5 episodes, 2002)

Runtime:

USA:25 min

Country:

Japan

Language:

Japanese

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Certification:

Australia:PG (DVD rating)

Company:

Radix

Quotes:

Rakka: Somewhere, that's not here, in a place I can't remember, I was obsessed with the idea that I was all alone. I thought that nobody would care, or even miss me if I vanished from the face of the Earth. I wanted to disappear. Then I had a dream about falling from the sky. I just remember that the bird was in the dream with me, and that the bird was someone in the form of a bird, trying to call me back. I now know that I was never alone. But I...
Communicator: You should not think of it in such a way. Your wings and halo are proof that you have no sin to be atoned for in this world.
[...]

Beautiful

After watching Haibane Renmei early this year, I thought it was a bit different than Yoshitoshi Abes other works, (like Lain, which is a bit of a puzzler). This series (Haibane Renmei) has an air of sadness to it, but also moments of happiness and joy, and doesn't mess around to much with your head.

I really enjoyed it and would watch it several more times, enjoying it as much as the first. The ending had me virtually in tears, it really was perfect. If you're gonna purchase any anime on DVD in the future, this one should be next on your list. No doubt about that. This one makes the top of my favourite list without problems.